Celebrating sacrifice
It is called the Day of Sacrifice, or Idul Adha. For Muslims it represents two monumental events: the culmination of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, and the slaying of sacrificial animals, usually a goat or cow, whose meat is then donated to the needy.
According to Islamic scripture, Idul Adha commemorates the Prophet Abraham's obedience to God, who substituted a ram as a last minute dispensation from the intended sacrifice of Abraham's son.
People around the country, regardless of their religion, rejoice at the coming of such religious commemorations mainly because it means an extra day off work. Revel though they may at the prospect of a long weekend, the significance of the event should not be forgotten, even by the agnostics amongst us.
While the commemoration may be considered Islamic -- a similar version of Abraham's sacrifice is also recounted in the Old Testament -- its benevolent essence transcends religious divisions.
The themes of divine reverence, personal sacrifice and caring for those less fortunate need no religious labels or even a declared conviction for any particular faith. Compassion and moral ethics are not the exclusive realm of organized religion. Their characteristics are the core of any civilized society. In other words, it's part of what makes us human.
During this period of great sorrow for the Indonesian nation, Idul Adha is a reminder for us to be continually compassionate towards others. To sacrifice a little of what we have to victims of the bitter events in northern Sumatra.
The sacrificing of animals can be viewed as a symbolic gesture that the desire to help is not dependent upon the size of our wallets. Our energy and spirit in helping to organize donations, or even our solemn thoughts to those in need, can be a helpful token.
Participation in the oversight of donations channeled to victims of disaster and calamity across the country is just as meaningful as the person who contributes Rp 100,000 to one of the many television charity drives so his or her name is scrolled across the screen.
Any effort to materialize a greater good for the many usually requires long hours of work and dedication -- whether in social work, environmental activism or community service. This is where the spirit of sacrifice comes in.
Idul Adha is also a further reminder to us to be appreciative of life. Too many among us complain about the luxuries that we do not possess, or the comforts that we do not receive.
Compared to the many victims of tragedies in Aceh and other places across the country, our grievances are trivial.
Most of us should count ourselves blessed that we can set our own terms in when and how much we wish to sacrifice -- all of which can be compensated with a little additional hard work.
Compare that to the tsunami victims who were given no choice, and had everything they cherished taken by a tidal wave. They sacrificed much more than a few hours of time, or some extra numbers in their bank books. They sacrificed lives and livelihoods. An irreplaceable loss.
During this Idul Adha long weekend, let us thus cherish what we have. Appreciate the simplest, yet dearest, things we have -- our health, our family and friends -- be thankful that we are not called upon to make a sacrifice like Abraham, such as victims of the tsunami must feel.
To the hundreds of thousands in Aceh and around the country who have already sacrificed so much because of various calamities, mere words cannot console their loss. It is hard to give thanks when a person has lost everything.
Hopefully, brief respite can come from the knowledge that as people turn their minds to the divine this weekend, their hearts will also go out to victims of calamity.
Let us turn Idul Adha and other religious events -- whether Islamic, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist -- as moments to knit together the many ethnicities and faiths to make Indonesia a more compassionate nation.